Insights Into Degenerative Aortic Valve Disease

Insights Into Degenerative Aortic Valve Disease Seth H. Goldbarg, Sammy Elmariah, Marc A. Miller, Valentin Fuster Degenerative aortic valve disease (DAVD) has become the most common cause of valvular heart disease in the Western world. Like atherosclerotic disease, valve calcification is an active process that is preceded by basement membrane disruption, inflammatory cell infiltration, and lipid deposition and is associated with many cardiac risk factors. These realizations, in addition to pathological insights gained from emerging imaging modalities, have led to the exploration of a variety of pharmacologic therapies to delay or prevent the progression of DAVD. Here we review the epidemiology and pathophysiology of DAVD, in addition to highlighting emerging therapeutic interventions for this growing problem.